LICENSING CASE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11141, 3 December 1907, Page 6

LICENSING CASE.

In the Te Karaka licensing case the following further evidence was given : — Reginald Caulton, licensee of the Whatatutu hotel, stated he did not see what become of the Natives after defendant separated them on the road. Witness j was not certain who else was there. He left the bar on hearing there was a fight on and went on to the rojad, but did not see much what was going on. — By Sergeant Williams: Defendant may have been m the yard. The fight was going on about a chain and a half from where witness' stood. When witness? went out the front door, defendant went towards the back.' The fight continued about two minutes after witness went out. It would have been possible for defendant to have seen the fight if he went out the back door. — My Mr Stock: It was impossible for defendant to be m the yard when the light started. ' John F. Pettie, win© and spirit merchant, deposed that he remained m the yard while the fight lasted, but did not see defendant there. It^was hot possible for defendant . to be present at the commencement-' as he was m the bar. — By Sergeant Williams: It was possible for defendant to have gone out without witness knowing it. He could have gone out the back way. — By Mr. Stock: Witness never saw defendant go out while he was m the bar. Thomas Kerr, coachdriver, Whatatutu, said he was not present at the first disturbance.. When he arrived m the bar, defendant and the last two witnesses were there. About two minutes after hearing the fight was on he went out with .Mr Caulton. Defendant had not left the bnr.tihen.— By Sergeant Williams: Witness was about two chains away looking over a fence. . , Joseph Price, contractor, said he left the bar first and heard the Natives were going to have another fight. The fight lasted about five minutes. He saw defendant confe out the back door just as the fight was over ' Bertram Bachelor, laborer, stated that he saw the fight m- question.' He saw defendant come out by the tap-room door after the fight yvas over. Defendant was not present during the time the fight was on. — By Sergeant Williams : There were two or three back doors to the hotel. If defendant came out the fame door as witness did he would not have seen the fight. Albeit M. Lewis, storekeeper, stated he. heard a noise when standing m front of his shop and saw'tw.o natives m front Of defendant's hotel. He did not hear or see anything going on at the back. John Duggan, billiard-marker, said he assisted defendant to stop n, disturbance m front of the hotel. About 10 to 20 minutes after he returned; to the hotel, he ; heard of ths fight, and went out. He did not see defendant there. By Sergeant Williams : Witness was -watching the fight, not looking for defendant, who might have been there without him seeinj? him. ' . - His Worship said , notwithstanding the evidence" for the defence, he was of opinion defendant was. guilty of the offence. There wag not the least doubt m His Worship's mind that defendant knew what was going on and never made any effort to suppress j^. It was a most disgraceful thing to allow on the premises. Defendant would be fined £5, costs. £2 9s 4d, and would have the conviction endor3ed on the license.